Tube reducing means



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TUBE REDUCING MEANS Filed Feb. 19, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 Nov. 13,1934. J. R. COE

TUBE REDUC ING MEANS Filed Feb. 19, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet ll 11A ll "NMamveutoz Jmesfaaoe bro W1 @513 his 61 will! Patented Nov. 13, 1934UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The American Brass Company,

Waterbury,

Coma, a corporation of Connecticut Application February 19, 1931, SerialNo. 516,905

47 Claims.

This invention has for an object the provision of a novel and improvedapparatus for accomplishing expeditiously and effectively reduction incross sectional area of metal tubes. The invention comprises new andimproved means for feeding metal tube stock, step by step, to bringsuccessive increments thereof into the range of action of elements forreducing the cross sectional area of the tube stock and elongating thesame. A further feature of the invention resides in the provision ofnovelmeans whereby rotation of the tube stock is effected concurrentlywith the forward step by step feeding thereof, such rotation of thestock enabling the reducing elements on their ensuing reducing stroke toiron out fins developed on the stock during the preceding reducingstroke of said elements. The invention further comprises novel andeffective means whereby tube blanks may be readily loaded into theapparatus. These and other features will be best understood from theensuing description of a specific embodiment of the invention, and willbe further pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. plan view of a portion of a tube-reducing machine embodyingmy invention.

Fig. la is a plan view constituting a continuation of Fig. l and showingthe remaining portion of said machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 2a is a side elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig.la.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, partly in vertical section, at the rearof the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on line 4--4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 'l is a vertical sectional detail view of a clamping mechanism forengaging a tube blank at certain times.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section online 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a view in horizontal section on line 99 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a. view in transverse vertical section on line l0-l0 of Fig.la.

Fig. 11 is a view in longitudinal vertical section on line 11--11 ofFig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detail view showing a rack and gear whereby thetube-reducing rolls are driven.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of tube stockillustrating the effect produced thereon by reducing elements embodyinga feature of my invention.

Referring to the drawings the machine is mounted upon a suitablesupporting frame or base designated generally as A. Mounted forreciprocation on said base is a. carriage 2 which conveniently maycomprise a pair of spaced side frames 3, 3, suitably secured to eachother as by bolts 4. Positioned between said side frames are oscillatoryrolls 6, 6', the shafts '7, 7 (Fig. 10) of which are journaled inanti-friction units 8 in the carriage side frames. Said rolls havegrooves 9, 9' respectively, in their peripheries for acting upon andreducing the cross sectional area of the tube stock as will be notedmore particularly hereinafter. Each of the anti-friction units maycomprise a housing or container 3' in which the anti-friction elementsof the unit are mounted. and whereby the unit may be readily. positionedin one or the other of the side frames. Plates 10. 10' on each sideframe cover the respective units therein.

Suitably mounted on the carriage, as through one of the bolts 4, arerollers 11, 11, which rollers engage tracks 12, 12, secured to the baseA. The carriage further comprises extensions 13, 13, projectingforwardly from the frames 3, 3, and integral therewith. Through saidextensions passes a crosshead rod 14 on opposite ends of which arerollers 15, 15. Secured to base A adjacent the carriage 2 and onopposite sides thereof are vertical frames 16, 16 each provided with atrackway 17 as shown in the frame 16 appearing in Fig. 10. The rollers15, rest upon the trackways 1'7 in the respective frames 16, 16 and alsoengage the under sides of plates l8, 18 secured to the tops of saidframes and overlying the trackways 17 thereof. It will-thus be seen thatthrough its rollers 11, 11, and 15, 15 and the cooperating trackways thecarriage 2 is freely reciprocable upon the bed or base A. Forreciprocating the carriage I haveshown crank arms 19, 19 journaled onthe crosshead rod 14 and connected to crank shaft 20. The latter isjournaled in bearings in the base A and has secured thereto a gear 21which meshes with a pinion 22 fastened to a shaft 23 also rotatable inbearings on said base. Shaft 23 is operable by a motor 24 through aclutch 25 of conventional type and operable in any suitable orwell-known way either to establish or to disestablish a connectionbetween said motor and said shaft. It will thus be apparent that whenthe shaft 23 is in operation the carriage revolution of the crank shaft20. v

The roll shaft 7 has secured thereto a pinion 26 which meshes with arack 27 fastened to an upwardly extending frame or standard 28 (Fig. 10)on the base A. Keyed to the hub 26' of said pinion is a gear 29 whichmeshes with a gear 30 fastened on the roll shaft 7. It will thus be seenthat during the operation of the carriage 2 the rolls 6, 6' carriedthereby are automatically rotated, each being turned in a directionopposite to that of the other. During the forward stroke of the carriagethe roll 6 will be turned in one direction by the rack 2'7 andconnections while during the return stroke of said carriage said rollwill be turned in the reverse direction; while the roll 6' will duringeach stroke rotate oppositely to the direction of rotation of roll 6.The rolls 6, 6 need not make a complete rotation during either stroke ofthe carriage, but their movement may instead be oscillatory, so thateach roll turns first in one direction through a portion of a revolutionduring the forward stroke and then returns to its original positionduring the rearward or return stroke. It will thus be apparent thatwhile I have shown the elements 6, 6' in the form of rollers they mightinstead be simply segmental rocker elements. While in the particularembodiment here shown, the rolls are not turned through a completerevolution by the travel of the carriage through a complete stroke, itwill be apparent that the parts may be so designed that the rolls make acomplete, or any desired incomplete, rotation for each stroke of thecarriage; the extent of rotation of the rolls in each carriage strokedepending upon the relation of the circumference of the rolls to theextent of the stroke.

Secured to the base A rearwardly of the rolls 6, 6' and can'iage 2 is aframe 31 for supporting tube blanks 32; said frame comprising verticallyextending standards 33 and beams 34 secured to said standards andextending in a direction transverse to the machine. The beams 34 areinclined as shown in Fig. 5 so that the blanks roll downwardly thereonby gravity toward the central longitudinal vertical plane'of themachine; the lowermost or innermost blank 32 being received in thenotched portions 35 of a pair of lifting bars 36, mounted to slidevertically in standards 37. The bars 35 are connected to rock arms 38fastened to a rock shaft 39 which is connected through an arm 40 andlink 41 (Fig. 5) with the rod 42 of a piston 43 movable in a fluidpressure cylinder 44. Air or other fluid pressure may be supplied tosaid cylinder through a pipe 45 controlled by a suitable valve which inone position establishes communication between a source of fluidpressure and the cylinder 44 and in another position cuts off suchcommunication and establishes communication between said cylinder andthe atmosphere. Such valves being well known, illustration thereof isunnecessary. It sumces to note that upon the admission of pressurethrough pipe 45 into casing 44 the piston 43 is raised, whereby, throughshaft 39 and rock arms 38 the bars 36 are elevated. The tube blank 32engaged by said bars is thereby raised into the path of a tubularextension 46 which projects forwardly from a cross-head 47 mounted totravel on and having threaded engagement with a pair of threaded shaftsor feed screws 48; 49. By rotation of said screws as hereinafterdescribed, the cross-head extension 46 is caused to push forwardly thetube blank 32 which has been raised into its pathand to bring said blankinto en- 2 will be given a complete reciprocation for each gagement withthe interior of a bushing 50 Journaled in a frame 51 on a portion of thebed or base A, through which bushing the tube blank is fed by saidcross-head into position between the reducing rolls 6, 6'. After thetube blank has been placed under the control of the cross-head 47 andengaged with the bushing 50, the fluid pressure beneath the piston 43may be vented to the atmosphere by manipulation of the valve abovereferred to, whereupon the bars 36 descend into position for receivinganother of the tube blanks on the beams 34. It may be noted that thebars 36, during their movement to and from position for placing a blankunder control of the cross-head, engage the succeeding blank on thebeams 34 and thereby prevent the blanks on said beams from rolling offthe same. When in their lowermost position the notched upper portions 35of said bars 36 are in position for receiving the adjacent tube blankfor elevating the latter when fluid pressure is next admitted tocylinder 44.

The feed screws 48, 49 are journaled for rotation at their front ends inbearings 51', 51' in the frame 51 and at their rear ends in bearings52', 52 in a frame 52 secured to the rear end of the base A. Said shafts48, 49, have secured thereto, adjacent the rear ends thereof, gears 53,54, respectively, which mesh with an intermediate gear 55 the hub 55' ofwhich (Fig. 4) is journaled for rotation in the frame 52. Gear 55 mesheswith a gear 56 secured to a shaft '57 which is rotatably mounted inbearings 57', 57' in said frame 52. Fastened to said shaft 57 so as torotate with said shaft and the gear 56 is a ratchet wheel 58. The latteris engaged by a pawl 59 carried by cross bar 60 slidably mounted in atransverse channel 61 in the frame 52. At one end the bar 60 carries aroller 62 which is engaged by a cam 63 on a shaft 64. The latter extendslongitudinally of the machine and is driven by the crank shaft 20through the bevel pinions 65, 66 (Fig. 1A); the shaft 64 and cam 63making one revolution for each revolution of the crank shaft. At itsother end the bar 60 is connected to a piston 67 slidable in fluidpressure cylinder 68. Movement of the rod 60 by the cam 63 may beopposed by the action of fluid pressure behind the piston in the chamber68. During each rotation of the shaft 64 the cam 63 acts upon rod 60 andshifts the latter against the pressure behind the piston 67, to bringpawl 59 into engagement with the next tooth on the ratchet wheel 58;and, as the rotation of shaft 64 continues, the high point of the cam 63passes out of engagement with roller 62, whereupon the pressure behindpiston 67 returns the rod into engagement with the low point of the cam,the ratchet wheel 58 being turned one step by pawl 59 during said returnmovement of rod 60. Thus in each rotation of the shaft 64 the rod 60 isoperated, first to engage pawl 59 with the succeeding tooth on ratchet58 and then to turn said ratchet one step and thereby, through gears 56,55, 54, and 53, to rotate the screws 48, 49 and feed the cross-head 47and tube 32' forwardly one step.

During regular operation pressure air is constantly supplied to the rearend of cylinder 68 through pipe 69. When it is desired to discontinuefeeding of the tube, the air at the back of the piston 67 is cut offfrom the supply source and vented to the atmosphere by turning of asuitable valve and air is admitted through pipe 70 to the front ofchamber 68 by turning of a suitable valve connected to said pipe. Thepiston 67 is now moved into the rear of the cylinder 68 and retracts therod so that the latter is removed from the range of action of the cam 63and the pawl 59 is disengaged from ratchet wheel 58. The cross-head 4'7may now be retracted to permit the introduction of a new tube blank,such retraction being readily accomplished at comparatively rapid speedby energizing an electric motor 71 which is connected through pinion '72with gear 56 for driving the latter. Restoration of rod 60 into positionfor operation by cam 63 and for acting upon ratchet 58 may beaccomplished by placing pipe in communication with the atmospherethrough turning of its controlling valve and placing pipe 69 incommunication with the fluid pressure source.

Extending through the cross-head 47 and the tube 32, and between therolls 6, 6, is a mandrel 73 for supporting the inside wall of the tubeduring the rolling and ironing operations, regulating the inner form ofthe tube during rolling and controlling the inside diameter of thefinished tube. The forward'end '73 of said mandrel is preferably taperedto facilitate feeding forward of the tube. The rear portion of saidmandrel projects, as shown in Fig. 4, through a sleeve '74 which extendsthrough gear 55 and is splined thereto so as to be compelled torotate'with said gear but at the same time to be movable longitudinallywith respect thereto. The mandrel further projects rearwardly through asleeve '75 rotatably mounted in a cross-head 76. The latter is supportedslidably upon a pair of rods '77, '18, which at their forward ends aremounted in brackets 80 on the frame 52 and at their rear ends aremounted in bracket-portions 81 of a frame 82. Adjacent its rear end themandrel 73 is squared as indicated at 73" and extends through acorrespondingly shaped hole in a plate 83 which is secured to therotatable sleeve '75. Said sleeve also has secured upon the front endthereof a sleeve 84 having clutch teeth 85 engageable with correspondingclutch teeth on the head 74' of sleeve '14. Normally, a spring 86maintains sleeve '74 pressed rearwardly with its teeth in engagementwith those of sleeve 84. Forward movement of the mandrel with respect tothe cross-head 76 is limited by the engagement with plate 83 of a washer8'7 held in place against the end of squared portion 73" of said mandrelby nut 88 threaded on the end of said shaft.

The mandrel "I3 is movable either to a forward position wherein itprojects between the rolls 6, 6' or to a rearward position wherein itpermits a new tube blank to be inserted by the lift ing mechanismbetween the cross-head extension 46 and the bushing 50. The position ofth mandrel is controlled by a piston 89 (Fig. 8) in a cylinder 90, therod 91 of which piston is connected to cross-head '76 through bracket 92secured to said cross-head. Pipes 93, 94 connectable to a fluid pressuresource through suitable valves communicate with the front and rear endsrespectively of the cylinder 90, and it will be apparent that themandrel '73 may be retracted by admitting fluid pressure through pipe 93to the front of thecylinder 90, and at the same time venting "the rearof the cylinder to the atmosphere through pipe 94. Conversely, themandrel may be moved to its forward position by admitting fiuid pressureto the rear of the cylinder 90 through pipe 94 and venting the front ofsaid cylinder to the atmosphere through pipe 93.

When the mandrel is in its forward position the teeth on the clutchmembers '74, 84 are in engagement with each other, and operation of thegear 55 to advance the tube is accompanied by rotation of the mandrelthrough 90. The portion of the tube at the forward end of the mandrelengages the latter with sufilcient tightness that the tube is rotated byturning of the mandrel; suchrotation of the tube being further assistedby rotation of the bushing 50, which fits the tube sufliciently tightlyto impart rotation thereto. It will be apparent that whenever gear 55 isrotated, the sleeve 74 and clutch member 74' turn also so that, as longas the mandrel is in its normal or forward position, the rotation ofsaid gear 55 is transmitted to clutch member 84 and thence throughsleeve and plate 83, to the mandrel. At the same time the bushing 50 isturned through a gear 95 on screw 48, which gear meshes with a gear 96on said bushing. The extent of rotation imparted by gear 55 to themandrel 73 and bushing 50 in each actuation of the gear by pawl 59,ratchet 58, and gear 56 is 90; and thus the tube 32 is turned about thelongitudinal axis through one-fourth of a revolution in each step offorward feeding of said tube when the mandrel is in its normal position.

When a tube blank is in position between the rolls 6, 6' and the machineis set in operation,

the carriage 2 is moved first forwardly and then backwardly in eachrevolution of the crank shaft, and during said forward movement therolls 6, 6' act upon the tube, squeezing the associated portion of thetube stock forwardly on the man drel and reducing the cross sectionalarea of said portion. The grooves 9, 9' in the respective rolls, asindicated in Fig. 10, are of tapered formation throughout the greaterpart of their length; the portions of said grooves that surround thetube at the commencement of the forward travel of the carriage, andduring the initial portion of said travel, being of such size as toprovide clearance between the rolls and the tube, as indicated by theleft hand dotted line position of the rolls shown diagrammatically inFig. 13, so that the latter may be freely rotated and advanced asdescribed hereinbefore. The portions of the grooves 9, 9 which engagethe tube as the forward movement of the carriage continues are of suchprogressively decreasing size that during the greater portion of theforward travel of the carriage the rolls act upon the tube to reduce thecross sectional area thereof. The portions of the grooves which engagethe tube during the final portion of the forward travel of the carriageare of uniform cross section corresponding to the reduced cross sectionof the tube and acting to iron or smooth the tube following reductionthereof by the tapered portion of the grooves. The grooves 9, 9' may beso designed, for example, that, assuming the stroke of the carriage tobe sixteen inches, the rolls turn idly with respect to the tube for thefirst four inches of said stroke, then the rolls act upon the tube toreduce the area of the latter during the ensuing ten inches of stroke,and finally the concentric or uniform reduced portions of the groovesact upon the tube to iron or smooth the latter during the remaining twoinches of said stroke. During the return or rearward travel of thecarriage, the concentric reduced portions of the grooves continue theirironing or smoothing action for the first two inches of said stroke,while during the remainder of said stroke the rolls turn idly withrespect to the tube. The foregoing figures are of course illustrativemerely and may obviously be varied. As has been noted, the tube isautomatically fed forward one step and is concurrently rotated through90 in each rotation of the crank shaft, and prior to the commencement ofthe reducing action of the rolls on the tube. This turning and feedingof the tube may take place entirely during the initial portion of theforward travel of the carriage (four inches in the example aboveindicated), or during the return stroke, or may be carried out partlyduring the last portion of the return stroke and completed in theinitial portion of the forward stroke, the time during which said feedand turning of the tube take place being readily determinable bysuitable design of the cam 63.

The shape of the tapered portions of the grooves 9, 9' that effectreduction in the area of the tube stock is preferably such as to producethe greatest reduction during the first part of the reducing portion ofthe carriage stroke.

This may be accomplished by designing said grooves so that the portionsthereof that act upon the tube during the first part of the reducingportion of the carriage stroke have a pronouncedly greater degree oftaper than those portions of said grooves that act upon the tube duringthe balance of the reducing portion of said stroke. Reference in thisconnection may be made to Fig. 13 wherein there is illustrated theeffect produced during the reducing portion of the carriage travel byrolls having groovesof varying taper such as above referred to. In thisview, the lines designated a, b, indicate the beginning and end of thereducing portion of the stroke or travel of the carriage, whilethe'lines b, c define the beginning and end of the smoothing portion ofsaid stroke. The portion of the tube between the lines a, b is thatportion which occupied the reducing zone a, b in the preceding forwardstroke of the carriage, while portion b, c formerly occupied thesmoothing zone b, c; said tube having in the meantime been fed forwardthe increment represented by the distance a, a, ready for the nextforward stroke of the carriage and reducing rolls. During said nextforward stroke, the portion of the tubebetween the lines a, b will bereduced to the form indicated by the dot-dash lines at d. From this theeffect produced by rolls having grooves of varying taper as above notedwill readily be seen. By having the greater reduction occur during theinitial part of the reducing portion of the carriage stroke, increasedefliciency is attained; since it has been found that the tube duringthis portion of the stroke offers less resistance to reduction thanduring the ensuing portion of the stroke wherein the wall of the tubehas become thinner and the metal has become harder through working. Inshort, the grooves 9, 9' are preferably designed to effect reduction ata varying rate during the reducing portion of the carriage stroke, thisrate being greater during the first part thereof and less during theremaining part of said reducing portion of the stroke.

To provide for a true rolling movement, without slippage, of each rollupon the tube stock notwithstanding the engagement of the roll with thestock at different distances from its axis of rotation due to varyingdepth of its groove 9' or 9', I mount the pinion 26 eccentrically to theaxis of shaft '7 and provide a rack 27 of suitable configuration tocooperate with the eccentrically mountedpinion throughout the stroke ofthe carriage as indicated in Fig. 12. By such eccentric mounting of thepinion and said corresponding configuration of the rack the rolls aredriven at such rate during the travel of the carriage that a truerolling action of the rolls upon the stock may be attained and slippageobviated.

Briefiy summarizing, it will readily be seen that when the mandrel '73is in its forward position and the machine is in operation the portionof the tube stock in the range of action of the grooved rolls 6, 6' isengaged by said rolls during the forward travel of the carriage with theresult that said portion of the tube is reduced in cross section, and isat the same time elongated and forced forwardly over said mandrel, saidportion being furthermore subjected to a smoothing or ironing actionduring the final portion of the forward stroke of said carriage. Duringthe initial part of the return stroke of the carriage the smoothing orironing action of the rolls is continued, and during the last portion ofthe return stroke and the first portion of the en suing forward strokethe enlarged or clearance portions of the grooves 9, 9' are opposite thetube stock so that the stock can be readily moved forward one step andsimultaneously rotated through 90 by the operation of gear 56 throughpawl 59 and ratchet 58. As has been noted. such operation of the gear 56turns the screws 48, 49, whereby the cross-head 47 is forced forwardlyone step to feed a new increment of the stock into the range of actionof the rolls; and at the same time the rotation of gear 55, actingthrough clutch members 74', 84, sleeve '75. and plate 83, rotates themandrel through 90 and thereby turns the tube stock through a quarter ofa revolution, this turning of the tube stock being further assisted byrotation of bushing in conjunction with the turning of screw 48. Due tosaid rotation of the tube stock through 90 the fins formed on the tubestock as a result of the reducing action of the rolls during theprevious forward stroke of the carriage are ironed out by said-rolls onthe ensuing forward stroke, and the rolls additionally act upon the newincrement of stock to effect reduction thereof.

For guiding the finished tube as the latter emerges from the rolls 6, 6,I provide on the carriage 2 a housing 9'7 having an enlarged head 98through which passes the cross-head rod 14. Said rod has atransversepassage 99 therethrough communicating with the interior of the housing9'7. The rearward end of the housing may be supported on the carriage inany suitable way, as through a bracket 100, and, as shown, extendsadjacent the rolls 6, 6 for receiving the finished tubing as the latterleaves the rolls. At its rear end the housing 9'7 is in threadedengagement with a tube 101 which extends rearwardly through bearings102, 103 supported from the base of the machine. The housing 97 and tube101 guide the finished tubing and prevent deflection of the latter intothe path of moving parts. If desired, there may be positioned atdifferent points in the housing 9'? a. series of anti-friction bearings,such as indicated at 104,

- for engaging the finished tubing and holding it in a central position,and providing frictionless supports for the finished tubing so that adecreased resistance is ofiered to turning of the tube stock by rotationof the mandrel.

To further facilitate turning of the mandrel and tube stock, the member46, which projects forwardly from cross-head 47 and through which saidmandrel extends is shown mounted in antifriction. bearings in saidcross-head. Thus, as

shown in Fig. 4, the rearwardly extending portion 46' of said member 46is mounted in crosshead 47 through the medium of anti-friction bearingunits 105.

When a new tube blank 32 is to be loaded into the machine the cross-head47 is retracted and the mandrel 73 is withdrawn rearwardly sufllcientlyto permit the new blank to be inserted between the member 46 and bushing50. Means are provided in this connection for clamping the precedingtube blank to facilitate withdrawal of the mandrel therefrom. This meanscomprises a pair of clamping jaws 106, 106 positioned at the forward endof the bushing 50 and pivotally mounted on bolts 107, 107, projectingfrom the frame 51. A plate 108, mounted on the frame 51 by said bolts107 and by another bolt 109, serves to maintain said jaws in properrelation to said frame and to the-tube blank projecting from bushing 50.At their upper ends the respective jaws 106 are connected through links110 to the rod 111 of a piston 112 mounted in a chamber or cylinder 113.The latter may conveniently be formed as part of a frame 114 secured tobase 115 projecting upwardly from frame 51. Air pressure from a suitablesource may be admitted into chamber 113 either above or below piston 112through pipes 116, 117, respectively.

For loading a new tube blank into the machine the operation of thelatter is stopped while the preceding tube blank is still in positionfor engagement by the-clamping jaws 106 and is supported by bushing 50.Air pressure is then admitted through pipe 116 into chamber 113 bymanipulation of a suitable valve, pipe 117 being simultaneously ventedto the atmosphere, whereupon the piston 112 descends and, through links110, forces the jaws 106 into firm engagement with said tube blank 32that is supported in the bushing 50. Air pressure is next admittedthrough pipe 93 into chamber 90. whereby piston 89 is operated toretract the mandrel to such position as will permit a new tube to beinterposed between the front end of said mandrel and the rear end of thebushing 50. Air pressure is also admitted through pipe into chamber 68,and the piston 67 is thereby operated to disengage pawl 59 from ratchet58. The motor 71 is then set in operation to turn gears 56 and 55rapidly in the direction the reverse of that in which they are actuatedwhen pawl 59 is in operation, until the cross-head 47 is retractedsufficiently to permit the interposition of a tube blank between therear end of bushing 50 and the forward end of the projecting member 46.For conveniently controlling the motor '71, a switch arm 118 may bemounted on a pedestal 119 adjacent said motor, as shown in 2. With theparts in the position aforesaid, air pressure is admitted through pipe45 into chamber 44, whereby piston 43 is raised and elevates the lifterbars 36, which carry upwardly from the beams34 the tube blank 32 engagedby the jaws of said lifter bars, and bring said new tube blank betweenthe aforesaid projecting member 46 and bushing 50. By then admittingpressure to the rearward side of piston 89 the mandrel is projectedthrough the aforesaid new tube blank as well as through the previouslyinserted tube and thence into its normal or forward position. Theclamping jaws are then released by restoration of piston 112 to itsupper position. The pawl 59 may now be restored into engagement withratchet 58 by admission of pressure to piston 67 through pipe 69; andupon then setting the machine in operation the cross-head 47 is fedforwardly, pushing the new tube blank into the bushing 50 and bringingthe forward end of said blank into engagement with the rear end of thepreviously inserted tube, whereupon as the operation of the machinecontinues feeding of said previously inserted tube through the rolls 6,6' is resumed, and the newly inserted blank is thence subjected to theaction of said rolls, the operation being again stopped when said newlyinserted blank is about to leave the bushing 50. In the meantimefollowing the entrance of the forward end of said newly inserted blank-into the bushing 50, the lifting bars 36 may be lowered as the resultof venting of the pressure below the piston 43. I

It has been noted that the sleeve 74, while compelled to rotate withgear 55, is slidable longitudinally with respect thereto. The spring 86,interposed between gear 55 and the head 74 of said sleeve, as shown,urges said sleeve rearwardly. When the mandrel 73 is retracted theclutch teeth of the sleeve 84 are disengaged from those of sleeve 74;rearward movement of sleeve 74 being limited by engagement of a nut 121threaded on the end ofsaid sleeve with the forward end of hub 55' ofgear 55. The retraction of the mandrel as aforesaid and consequentdisengagement of said clutch teeth enable the gear 55 and connectedelements to be freely rotated by motor 71 to retract the cross-head 47as previously described. If upon return of the mandrel into its forwardposition, following rotation of gear 55 and sleeve 74 with respect tosleeve 84, the teeth of said member 84 do not mesh properly with thoseof sleeve 74, the latter simply moves rearwardly, compressing spring 86;and as soonas gear 55 is again revolved the spring 86 reacts and forcessaid sleeve 74 rearwardly so that its teeth are properly engaged withthose of member 84.

It will be noted that the means which I have provided for driving thetube feeding and. rotating mechanism is flexible in its action. Thus,the rod 60, which through pawl 59 actuates the tube feeding and rotatingelements, is not driven positively to effect feeding and turning of thetube, but instead is positively actuated simply to compress the air orother pressure medium in cylinder 68 and is then operated by saidcompressed pressure medium to actuate the ratchet wheel 58 and therebyfeed and rotate the tube. In mechanisms wherein the tube feeding andturning mechanism is positively driven overloading of such mechanism (asby accidental overfeeding of the tube, resulting in excessive fin, or byfreezing or the tube on the mandrel as may occur occasionally) is likelyto cause breakage of parts. By my arrangement, wherein the shaft 20 doesnot positively drive the tube feeding and rotating means but insteadacts to compress a yieldable pressure medium during the major part ofeach revolution of said shaft and to release said medium for effectingoperation of the tube feeding and driving mechanism at a predeterminedpoint in the revolution, the danger of breakage or smashing of parts inthe event of overload is eliminated; since if the load exceeds thecapacity of the pressure medium in cylinder 68, the rod 60 and pawl 59will not be operated. In lieu of air any other suitable pressure medium,such as a compression spring, may, of course, be interposed betweenpiston 67 and the rear end of the cylinder 68.

It may be additionally noted that a new tube blank may be readily andexpeditiously loaded into the machine without stopping rotation of thecrank shaft 20 or reciprocation of the carriage 2; thereby saving time.Thus, when a new tube is to be inserted, the tube feeding and turningmechanism is thrown out of action by the admission of air to the frontend of cylinder 68 through pipe 70; and the previously inserted tubesecurely clamped as the result of the admission of air to clampingcylinder 113 through pipe 116, whereby said tube is not only heldagainst retraction during withdrawal of the mandrel '73 but is alsopositively prevented from being carried back and forth bythereciprocation of the carriage 2 and its rolls 6, 6. It will thus beevident that the insertion of a new tube does not require stoppage ofthe operation of the shaft 20 or carriage 2; The clutch 25 may, ifdesired, be omitted between shaft 23 and motor 24, and a flexiblecoupling of standard or conventional type may be interposed between themotor 24 and shaft 23.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

I claim:

1. In a tube reducing apparatus, a rotatable member for receiving atube, a reciprocable carriage, means for reciprocating said carriagealong the tube, tube-reducing elements mounted on said carriage, amandrel extending into said tube, and means correlated with saidreciprocating means for concurrently rotating said member and saidmandrel for effecting rotation of the tube.

2. In a tube reducing apparatus, a rotatable member for receiving atube, a reciprocable carriage, means for reciprocating said carriagealong the tube, tube reducing elements mounted on said carriage, amandrel extending into said tube, means correlated with saidreciprocating means for feeding the tube longitudinally, and meanscontrolled by said feeding means for rotating said mandrel and saidmember to effect rotation of the tube concurrently with the feedingthereof.

3. In a tube reducing apparatus, a mandrel adapted to have a tubepositioned thereon, a reciprocable carriage, means for reciprocatingsaid carriage along the tube, tube reducing elements mounted on saidcarriagaa member for feeding the tube forwardly, means correlated withsaid reciprocating means for shifting said member forwardly step-by-stepduring successive reciprocations of said carriage, and means other thansaid member controlled by said shifting means for rotating said mandrelto effect rotation of said tube concurrently with the feeding thereof.

4. In a tube reducing apparatus, a mandrel on which a tube ispositioned, a reciprocable carriage, means for reciprocating saidcarriage along the tube, tube reducing elements mounted on saidcarriage, a member for feeding the tube forwardly, means correlated withsaid reciprocating means for shifting said member forwardly step-by-stepduring successive reciprocations of said carriage, means controlled bysaid shifting means for rotating said mandrel to effect rotation of saidtube, means for retracting said mandrel to permit the insertion of a newtube, and connections controlled by said mandrel retracting means fortemporarily rendering inoperative said mandrel rotating means.

5. In a tube reducing apparatus, a mandrel adapted to have a tubepositioned thereon, a reciprocable carriage, means for reciprocatingsaid carriage along the tube, tube reducing elements mounted on saidcarriage, a member for feeding the tube forwardly, screw means foractuating said member, means preventing movement of said mandrelforwardly with said member, and means correlated with said reciprocatingmeans for causing said screw means to shift said member forwardlystep-by-step during successive reciprocations of the carriage.

6. In a tube reducing apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, reducingelements mounted on said carriage and adapted to receive a tubetherebetween, means for reciprocating said carriage along the tube, amember positioned behind the tube for pushing the tube forwardly withrespect to the mandrel and into operative relation with said reducingelements, a mandrel extending through opposite ends of said member andinto said tube, and means correlated with said reciprocating means forshifting said member forwardly stepby-step in successive reciprocationsof the carriase.

7. In a tube reducing apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, reducingelements mounted on said carriage and adapted to receive a tubetherebetween, means for reciprocating saidcarriage along the tube, apair of screw members, a crosshead mounted on said screw members behindthe tube for pushing the tube forwardly, and means correlated with saidreciprocating means for causing said screw members to shift saidcrosshead forwardly step-by-step in successive reciprocations of thecarriage.

8. In a tube reducing apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, reducingelements mounted on said carriage and engageable with a tube, means forreciprocating said carriage along the tube, a member positioned behindthe tube for pushing the tube forwardly, a mandrel extending throughsaid member and into said tube, means preventing said mandrel frommoving forwardly with said members, means correlated with saidreciprocating means for shifting said member forwardly step-by-step insuccessive reciprocations of the carriage, and means controlled by saidshifting means for rotating said mandrel to effect rotation of saidtube.

9. In a tube reducing apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, reducingelements mounted on said carriage and engageable with a tube, means forreciprocating said carriage along the tube, a pair of screw members, acrosshead mounted on said screw members behind the tube for pushing thetube forwardly, means correlated with said reciprocating means forcausing said screw members to shift said crosshead forwardly step-by-step in successive reciprocations of the carriage, and means controlledby said reciprocating means for rotating the tube.

10. In a tube reducing apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, reducingelements mounted on said carriage and engageable with a tube, means forreciprocating said carriage along the tube, a member positioned behindthe tube for pushing the tube forwardly while the mandrel remainsstationary, a mandrel extending through opposite ends of said member andinto said tube, means correlated with said reciprocating means forshifting said member forwardly step-by-step in successive reciprocationsof the carriage, and means controlled by said reciprocating means forcations of the carriage, and means causing said screw means to retractsaid member with a continuous movement to permit the introduction of anew tube. I

12. In a tube reducing apparatus, a mandrel on which a tube ispositioned, reducing elements engageable with the tube, a member forfeeding the tube forwardly, means for shifting said member forwardlystep-by-step relatively to said mandrel to bring successive incrementsof the tube into the range of action of said elements. means forthrowing said step-by-step shifting means out of action, and means forretracting said member with a continuous movement preliminarily to theintroduction of a new tube.

13. In a tube reducing apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, reducingelements mounted, on said carriage and engageable with a tube, means forreciprocating said carriage alongthe tube, a member for feeding the tubeforwardly, screw means for actuating said member, a rotatable supportingelement for the tube, means correlated with said reciprocating means forcausing said screw means to shift said member forward ly step-by-step insuccessive reciprocations of the carriageand means connecting said screwmeans and said rotatable element for imparting rotation to the latterand thereby to the tube concurrently with the step-by-step shifting ofsaid tube feeding member.

14. In a tube reducing apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, reducingelements mounted on said carriage and engageable with a tube, means forreciprocating said carriage along the tube, a member positioned behindthe tube for pushing the latter forwardly, means correlated with saidreciprocating means for shifting said tube-feed ing member forwardlystep-by-step in successive reciprocatior s of the carriage, meansbetween said carriage and said member for supporting the tube during itsforward travel, means'providing for retraction of said tube feedingmember, and means adjacent said supporting means for bringing a new tubeinto position between said tube feeding member and said supporting meansafter said tube-feeding member has been retracted.

15. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements engageable with atube, means comprising a shiftable member engageable with me tube forfeedingthe tube step-by-step to bring successive increments thereof intothe range of action of said elements, a mandrel extending into saidtube, means for withdrawing the mandrel from the .tube, -means forretracting said shiftable member, and means for positioning a new tubeforwardly of said mandrel and said shiftable member preparatory tobringing said tube into the range of action of said elements.

16. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements engageable with atube, means comprising a'shiftable member engageable with a tube forfeeding the tube step-by-st'ep to bring suc cessive increments thereofinto the range of action of said elements, a mandrel extending into saidtube, means for withdrawing the mandrel from the tube, clamping meansfor preventing movement of the tube while the mandrel is beingwithdrawn, means for retracting said shiftable member, and means forpositioning a new tube forwardly of said mandrel and said shiftablemember preparatory to bringing said tube into the range of action ofsaid elements.

'17. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements engageable with atube, a tube supporting member rearward of said elements, a tube feedingmember movabiy mounted rearwardly of said tube supporting member forfeeding the tube forwardly, tube clamping means adjacent the forward endof said tube supporting member, means for retracting said tube feedingmember, and tube conveying means positioned for delivering a tubebetweensaid tube feeding member and said supporting member after saidtube feeding member has been retracted.

18. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements engageable with atube, a member for supporting the tube in operative relation to saidelements, means adjacent said supporting member for supporting aplurality of tubes, means for carrying a tube from the last mentionedsupporting means and delivering said tube into position for engagementwith said supporting member, means for shifting said delivered tube intoengagement with said supporting member, and meansto cause said carryingmeans to retract prior to continued advance of said shifting means.

19. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements engageablewith atube, a member for supporting the tube in operative relation to saidelements, downwardly inclined means supporting a plurality of tubesadjacent said supporting member, means for lifting a tube adapted whenin lowered position to receive a tube from sa d downwardly inclinedmeans and when in raised position to prevent the tubes, on saiddownwardly inclined means from escaping therefrom, and means for raisingsaid lifting means to bring the tube received when in its loweredposition into position for engagement with said supporting member, andfor retracting said lift-ing means at a subsequent time.

20. The method of insertinga new tube int a tube reducing machine priorto removal of a previously inserted tube therefrom, which comprisesclamping said previously inserted tube, withdrawing a mandrel therefrom,retracting a tube feeding element, inserting a new tube forwardly ofsaid mandrel and said tube feeding element, and projecting the mandrelforwardly through said new tube and into said previously inserted tube.

21. In a tube reducing machine, reducing elements engageable with atube, means for feeding the tube into the range of action of saidelements, a mandrel extending into said tube, means for retracting saidmandrel'to permit introduction of a new tube into the machine, andclutch means whereby a connection is established between the mandrel andthe tube feeding means for rotating the mandrel as an incident tofeeding of thetube ments engageable with a tube, means for feeding thetube into the range of action of said elements, a mandrel extending intosaid tube, means for retracting said mandrel to permit introduction of anew tube into the machine, and means whereby a connection is establishedbetween themandrel and the tube feeding means for rotating the mandrelas an incident to feeding of the tube and whereby said connection isbroken as an incident to retraction of said mandrel, said connectionestablishing means comprising a pair of clutch elements, one of which isengaged by a spring.

23. In a tube reducing machine, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, means for feeding a tube into the range of action of saidelements, said means comprising a rotatable element, a mandrel extendinginto the tube, means for retracting said mandrel to permit introductionof a new tube into the machine, a clutch member rotatable with saidrotatable element but movable longitudinally with respect thereto, asecond clutch member movable with the mandrel and being engageable withthe first mentioned clutch member when the mandrel is in its forwardposition, connections from the second clutch member for producingrotation of the mandrel in response to rotation of the second clutchmember by the first clutch member, and a spring urging the first clutchmember into engagement with the second clutch member.

24. In a tube reducing apparatus, a reciprocable carriage, reducingelements mounted on said carriage for receiving a tube therebetween,means for reciprocating said carriage along the tube, pressure means,means operated by said carriagereciprocating means for storing energy insaid pressure means, and means operated by said pressure means forfeeding the tube longitudinally.

25. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, means for operating said elements to effect reduction ofthe tube, means for shifting the tube longitudinally to presentsuccessive increments thereof to the action of said elements, pressuremeans for actuating said shifting means, and means correlated with saidoperating means for storing energy in said pressure means.

26. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, means for operating said elements to eifect reduction ofthe tube, means for shifting the tube longitudinally and rotating thesame, pressure means for actuating said tube shifting and rotatingmeans,

and means correlated with said operating means for storing energy insaid pressure means. I

27. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, means for operating said elements, means for shifting thetube longitudinally and rotating thesame, pressure means for actuatingsaid tube shifting and rotating means, and means correlated with saidoperating means for storing energy in said pressure means during aportion of the cycle of operation of said operating means andfor-releasing said pressure means to actuate said tube shifting androtating means in another portion of said cycle.

28. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, means for operating said elements, means for shifting thetube longitudinally, pressure means for actuating said tube shiftingmeans, and means correlated with said operating means for storing energyin said pressure means during a portion of the cycle of operation ofsaid operating means and for releasing said pressure means to actuatesaid tube shifting means in another portion of said. cycle.

29. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, means for operating said elements, means for rotating thetube, pressure means for actuating said tube rotating means, and cammeans correlated with said operating means for first causing energy tobe stored in said pressure means and'subsequently causing said storingof energy to cease and said pressure means to be released for actionupon said tube rotating means.

30. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, means for operating said elements, pressure means, amember driven in one direction by said operating means for storingenergy in said pressuremeans, and means operable upon movement of saidmember in the opposite direction under the influence of said pressuremeans for rotating said tube.

31. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, means for operating said elements, pressure means, amember driven in one direction by said operating means forstoring'energy in said pressure means, and means operable upon movementof said member in the opposite direction under the influence of saidpressure means for rotating said tube and shifting the samelongitudinally.

32. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, a carriage in which said elements are mounted, means forreciprocating said carriage along the tube, pressure means correlatedwith said reciprocating means, a member driven in one direction by saidoperating means for storing energy in said pressuremeans, and meansoperable upon movement of said member in the opposite direction underthe influence of said pressure means for shifting said tubelongitudinally.

33. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, a carriage in which said elements are mounted, means forreciproca ing said carriage along the tube, means for -s ting the tubelongitudinally, and flexible means correlated with said carriagereciprocating means for actuating said tube shifting means. l

34. In a tube reducing apparatus, reducing elements for receiving a tubetherebetween, a carriage in which said elements are mounted, means forreciprocating said carriage along the tube, means for shifting the tubelongitudinally and rotating said tube, and flexible means correlatedwith said reciprocating means for actuating said tube shifting androtating means.

35. In a tube reducing machine, a reciprocable carriage, reducingelements carried thereby for receiving a tube therebetween, means forreciprocating said carriage, means correlated with said reciprocatingmeans for feeding the tube longitudinally, means for disconnecting saidtube feeding means from the carriage reciprocating means when a new tubeis to be inserted into the machine, and means for clamping thepreviously inserted tube to prevent longitudinal movement thereof byreciprocation of the carriage.

36. In a tube. reducing machine, a mandrel adapted to have a tubepositioned thereon, a reciprocable carriage, tube reducing elements onsaid carriage, means for reciprocating said carriage, means correlatedwith said reciprocating means for feeding the tube longitudinally, meansfor disconnecting said feeding means from the

